Best Helmet Under $300 (Real Opinions)

We say it and say it again, boarding on ad nauseam. If you’re going to ride a motorcycle you need to own the appropriate gear, it must be high-quality gear, and you have to wear said gear.

In fact, we’ll say it one more time: If you’re going to ride a motorcycle, you need to own the appropriate gear, it must be high-quality gear, and you have to wear said gear.

Admittedly, we’ve also been regularly discussing all of the extra, quasi-hidden costs of motorcycling, including everything above and beyond the initial purchase price of your ride. And the price of high-quality gear can significantly add to the expense of riding.

But it doesn’t necessarily have to.

The single most vital piece of safety gear for any motorcyclist is their helmet. And if you’ll do a search for a replica of the one your favorite MotoGP riders sports, you might get sticker shock at the four-digit cost of donning their lid.

Here’s the thing, though. You have other options. And with stringent and ever-escalating helmet certifications in place, you can be assured of a certain level of safety from a helmet simply by it meeting those standards.

And since there’s a huge market of riders looking for a good quality helmet for a fair price, there’s a ton of competition seeking those dollars.

We’re here to point you in the right direction so that you can obtain a lid that’ll keep you safe yet not require that you crack a safe in order to make the purchase. 

The following helmets can all be had for $300 or less – and sometimes much less – and still do the job and then some.:

HJC i10

When HJC first came on the scene, riders often reflexively scoffed at the budget brand, and automatically deemed them unworthy compared to their prized Shoeis and Arais. But proven over time, HJC has since earned grudging respect from those same riders. 

HJC offers a huge range at and under our price ceiling. The i10 in particular is a fantastic street/commuter helmet that meets the strict Snell M2020 requirements.

Its polycarbonate-composite construction makes it light and strong, while providing good air flow and moisture wicking.

All this can be had for just over $150.

Scorpion EXO-R1 Air

Scorpion helmets are recognizable for their distinctive aggressive and aerodynamic shape.

Similar to HJC, Scorpion offers a wide range of EXO helmets that can be had for less than $300, while offering some of the best ventilation in the price range.

The E1 Air’s multi-layered Ultra-TCT shell combines fiberglass, aramid, and poly-resin fibers to provide a favorite blend of strength, light weight, and energy dispersal upon impact.

It’s also been designed with Bluetooth comms in mind, featuring speaker pockets that allow you to upgrade at your discretion.

AGV K1 S

AGV has a long history of providing Italian style and race-proven safety. 

Founded in 1947, and now a subsidiary of the Dainese brand, AGV offers that sense of heritage and effortless cool to riders at an affordable price point with the K1 S. 

With a good fit and fantastic ventilation, the K1 S has a high-end feel and looks like something that should come in double the price point.

LS2 Citation II 

While there is no shortage of high-quality budget helmets on the market, the compromise made in comparison to more expensive helmets is often in terms of noise levels.

That’s not the case for the LS2 Citation II, and that fact makes it an ideal choice for touring-minded riders set for long-distance journeys.

LS2 offers its own proprietary take on a high-performance fiberglass composite shell, granting it low weight and sleek aerodynamics that contribute to its quiet nature.

The Citation II initially listed right near our $300 ceiling but can currently be found for well under $200 on closeout. 

Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS

Here’s one for the ADV-minded riders out there. 

Closely related to the MX-9 MIPS motocross helmet (and consider this our official recommendation for a sub-$300 MX helmet), the Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS features fantastic air flow and light weight (a running theme here, true). 

It also has the highly respected and well-proven Bell name behind it, along with its much ballyhooed MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) safety technology.

Clearance

It’s also worth shopping around for clearance rates and aggressive sales. Helmets that normally go for $500 or much more can occasionally be found in our stated price range.